Finally, it is here! While we are sad to leave our friends in Australia, we are excited to go back to the USA and meet more new people in our new place, Carlsbad, New Mexico.
We spent these last few weeks coordinating our last weeks of school and move out. It has been a doosy too. I handed off uniforms and sold uniforms as Annika and Ian had worn theirs for the entire time we were here and they were a bit faded. Those were the had overs. Alex, having just worn hers for a few months, were sold to a friend whose daughter will be starting at Cav Rd in February. Good use all around by everyone. I also pulled out of my teaching contract a week early. I was supposed to do the last full week of the term as opposed to my usual 2 days per week as my partner teacher was going to cover the assistant principal job. I wanted to minimize the upheaval to my class kiddos, so asked to leave a bit early so 1 person could do the whole week, and they the first 4 of term 4. The office didn't notify payroll of this, so I was overpaid for 2 days and had to get it back to them. At least banking here is much easier as it is almost all online!
Sydney was beautiful as expected. We have the usual gorgeous shots from the harbor looking back at the opera house and bridge, close ups of the tiles of the Opera House, and we visited the Taronga Zoo across the harbor from the opera house. Our hotel was a bit of a walk from these scenic views however! We traversed several sets of historic steps that wound down through old neighborhoods and to the warf area. We then meandered through the botanic gardens, along with about 50,000 other people. Apparently it was a running festival day and thousands were doing their 5k, 10k, half and full marathons! Very crowded, but vibrant. We passed through the crowds and to Circular Quay (pronounced key) and then over to Darling Harbor and the Rocks area. I know we missed as much as we saw, and we didn't get to do the whole harbor cruise, but I was happy to have personally seen the highlights.
Once at home, we spent the rest of Tuesday packing our bags to live out of for the next 3 months of transition into winter weather. We had to bring more than we wanted as we needed jackets, jeans, sweatshirts, etc. Didn't need those coming over as it felt like summer no matter the calendar over here! In all of 3-4 hours, the bags were packed, the pack last items from the kitchen set aside, and the craziness could begin in the morning.
Knock on wood, but this has been a pretty smooth process so far. The packers were rock stars! I gave them the grand tour and turned them loose. They were happy to have an experienced mover on their hands who let them just get-r-done. They worked from 8-1 both days. In visiting with them I understand that many households have a last minute freak about packing and try to weed items out, delay packing because they want to have access to an entire room (kitchen) until the last possible minute, so their days can get insane long. Not us! But, I was the girl who was ready on time for the wedding pictures and was scolding the photographer for being late, when he had added 30 minutes because "brides never run on time." HA! I also convinced the loaders to come a bit early on Friday so my cleaners could start earlier and finish it all on Friday. I hired professional cleaners as I knew I would not have the energy or time to do the total clean lease end required. They washed every.square.centimeter of the entire house. Walls, counters, everything. Then I got a call from my carpet and pest guy (also an end of lease requirement) to see if he could get in and even get part of the job done Friday. The cleaners said to go for it, and he even got the whole job done by 6 Friday. The leasing agent was thrilled as they now have a day to get all their paperwork done instead of an hour on Monday before the new tenant moves in. I'm thrilled as I only have to pay 2 days penalty for unleased property since the new tenants come in so fast!
And to keep things real, Ian pulled his front tooth our next to last night in the house, and AFTER his elk hide tooth fairy pillow was packed! He really wanted his last tooth fairy Australia gold coin to spend on a treat before we left. Of Course!
We are currently in an apartment hotel in downtown Brisbane and enjoying the city festival. Friday night was the laser show at Southbank, last night was Riverfire-fireworks all up and down the river. We did this the first year as Rio Tinto had blocked off their river patio for employees and family members to enjoy the show. This year we hung out with the riff raff and enjoyed having a 10 minute walk over and back! I love that with our latitude the show started at 7 pm and done by 730! Annika and Ian had spent 2 hours in the hotel pool earlier and were passed out on the couch by 800. As much as I love the fireworks on the 4th of July, having them start at 1015 or 1030 makes for a loooong night for anyone with little kids! This is much nicer.
Today we are going to the science museum and natural history museum, hitting the pool again, washing and repacking, and organizing a maxi taxi to haul us to the airport in the morning! We are 24 hours from departing Brisbane. Love to all!
We spent these last few weeks coordinating our last weeks of school and move out. It has been a doosy too. I handed off uniforms and sold uniforms as Annika and Ian had worn theirs for the entire time we were here and they were a bit faded. Those were the had overs. Alex, having just worn hers for a few months, were sold to a friend whose daughter will be starting at Cav Rd in February. Good use all around by everyone. I also pulled out of my teaching contract a week early. I was supposed to do the last full week of the term as opposed to my usual 2 days per week as my partner teacher was going to cover the assistant principal job. I wanted to minimize the upheaval to my class kiddos, so asked to leave a bit early so 1 person could do the whole week, and they the first 4 of term 4. The office didn't notify payroll of this, so I was overpaid for 2 days and had to get it back to them. At least banking here is much easier as it is almost all online!
Sydney was beautiful as expected. We have the usual gorgeous shots from the harbor looking back at the opera house and bridge, close ups of the tiles of the Opera House, and we visited the Taronga Zoo across the harbor from the opera house. Our hotel was a bit of a walk from these scenic views however! We traversed several sets of historic steps that wound down through old neighborhoods and to the warf area. We then meandered through the botanic gardens, along with about 50,000 other people. Apparently it was a running festival day and thousands were doing their 5k, 10k, half and full marathons! Very crowded, but vibrant. We passed through the crowds and to Circular Quay (pronounced key) and then over to Darling Harbor and the Rocks area. I know we missed as much as we saw, and we didn't get to do the whole harbor cruise, but I was happy to have personally seen the highlights.
Once at home, we spent the rest of Tuesday packing our bags to live out of for the next 3 months of transition into winter weather. We had to bring more than we wanted as we needed jackets, jeans, sweatshirts, etc. Didn't need those coming over as it felt like summer no matter the calendar over here! In all of 3-4 hours, the bags were packed, the pack last items from the kitchen set aside, and the craziness could begin in the morning.
Knock on wood, but this has been a pretty smooth process so far. The packers were rock stars! I gave them the grand tour and turned them loose. They were happy to have an experienced mover on their hands who let them just get-r-done. They worked from 8-1 both days. In visiting with them I understand that many households have a last minute freak about packing and try to weed items out, delay packing because they want to have access to an entire room (kitchen) until the last possible minute, so their days can get insane long. Not us! But, I was the girl who was ready on time for the wedding pictures and was scolding the photographer for being late, when he had added 30 minutes because "brides never run on time." HA! I also convinced the loaders to come a bit early on Friday so my cleaners could start earlier and finish it all on Friday. I hired professional cleaners as I knew I would not have the energy or time to do the total clean lease end required. They washed every.square.centimeter of the entire house. Walls, counters, everything. Then I got a call from my carpet and pest guy (also an end of lease requirement) to see if he could get in and even get part of the job done Friday. The cleaners said to go for it, and he even got the whole job done by 6 Friday. The leasing agent was thrilled as they now have a day to get all their paperwork done instead of an hour on Monday before the new tenant moves in. I'm thrilled as I only have to pay 2 days penalty for unleased property since the new tenants come in so fast!
And to keep things real, Ian pulled his front tooth our next to last night in the house, and AFTER his elk hide tooth fairy pillow was packed! He really wanted his last tooth fairy Australia gold coin to spend on a treat before we left. Of Course!
We are currently in an apartment hotel in downtown Brisbane and enjoying the city festival. Friday night was the laser show at Southbank, last night was Riverfire-fireworks all up and down the river. We did this the first year as Rio Tinto had blocked off their river patio for employees and family members to enjoy the show. This year we hung out with the riff raff and enjoyed having a 10 minute walk over and back! I love that with our latitude the show started at 7 pm and done by 730! Annika and Ian had spent 2 hours in the hotel pool earlier and were passed out on the couch by 800. As much as I love the fireworks on the 4th of July, having them start at 1015 or 1030 makes for a loooong night for anyone with little kids! This is much nicer.
Today we are going to the science museum and natural history museum, hitting the pool again, washing and repacking, and organizing a maxi taxi to haul us to the airport in the morning! We are 24 hours from departing Brisbane. Love to all!
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